Add the Words, Idaho!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Last week for the first time in
Idaho’s history, gay couples have the option of signing a single piece of paper
– a marriage license – that gives them more than 1,000 legal rights and
responsibilities.

These newly married couples are
starting to wear their wedding rings to work. Many will put photos of their
spouse, their wedding ceremony, and their families on their desks. They will
show up hand in hand to look at a house for sale or rent. Unfortunately, in Idaho’s it’s completely legal to fire someone or
refuse them housing simply because they are gay – or appear to be gay.

Add the Words, Idaho encourages
the public and elected officials to support adding the words “sexual
orientation” and “gender identity” to Idaho’s Human Rights Act.

For years, legislative leadership
has denied a hearing on the Add the Words bill. They have said they want to
wait until marriage equality is decided. Well, the courts have ruled. Again and
again, they’ve sent a clear message that discomfort with someone’s sexual
orientation or gender identity is not a valid reason to deny them rights.

There are no more excuses – we fully expect that this year, the
Idaho legislature will do as Governor Otter and former Governor Batt have
suggested – print a bill, hold a testimony hearing on “Add the Words” and sign
it into law!

Marriage equality was a hard-won
fight and we offer our profound thanks to the four couples who sued for these
basic rights. We also thank the lawyers who argued the unconstitutionality of
denying these rights and the judges who supported the US Constitution and its
guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Our friends, family, and
neighbors now have the right to see their love and their relationships publicly
recognized no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. We are so
excited on their behalf, and we will work until they are truly equally
protected in the eyes of the law. Get out and vote for candidates who support equality (http://www.addthewords.org/vote#!vote/ccdn) and tell your legislators, our governor, and all your friends why we need to Add the Words in 2015!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Last week the legislature adjourned sine die yet again without holding a hearing on an Add the Words bill. The lives of LGBT Idahoans, those who live in fear each day, are still being ignored. For the eighth consecutive session, by not saying in law that discrimination is wrong, leadership has sent the message that they are on the side of those who would discriminate. And this session, it became even more sinister, as the majority party tried to bring forth a so-called "religious freedom" bill--the same bill that has been pushed in states all over the country. Rather than protecting the most vulnerable of our communities, it would have protected those cruel enough to discriminate. Thanks to YOU, and the overwhelming numbers that came out in opposition to this bill, we made them think again about moving it forward and it died officially with the end of the session. It has unfortunately been said publicly by Rep. Luker that he wants to bring the bill back next session. While the session may have ended, OUR WORK HAS JUST BEGUN. Please keep watching our page for opportunities to help, opportunities to engage with legislators. Please keep writing those letters to your legislators, expressing your disappointment in their handling of the Add the Words legislation efforts. And remember, we're headed into election season and chances are there is an election near you that could use volunteers to try to replace legislators who are not listening to their constituents. We told them we would never give up, and we meant it. We are not going away, and with your help, session #9 will begin with this issue in the forefront of their minds.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The sun chased the snow away, but the blustery freezing wind stayed as over 1500 people braved the weather to show the legislature that we will not sit quietly while they refuse to protect our LGBT friends, family, and neighbors. After a few short introductory words, where I pointed out the faults in the legislature’s excuses for not holding an Add the Words hearing, we were off. A line of people wrapped completely around the capitol, two and three rows deep, often times in clumps of people!! Car horns honked support as they drove by and the crowed cheered. We kept the microphone open to the public, and as we marched for the next 90 minutes or so, Carmine Caruso kept a steady stream of people coming to the microphone to offer testimony. From clergy to grandparents, from students to mothers, the stories were moving and genuine and heartfelt. Stories that the legislature refuses to hear.

Add the Words supporters "wrap the capitol" with their presence to show
legislators they will not stop until the words are added.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

We’ve packed the gallery. We’ve packed the Capitol. Now it’s time to WRAP THE CAPITOL!

You have shown up in amazing ways this session—you have stood up for your LGBTQ brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, children, and family. You have written letters, made phone calls, testified, and contacted your legislators. Sometimes the notice was very short, and still you brought huge numbers to drive home the point that discrimination is wrong, and that Idaho will not stand by and let her citizens be treated unfairly.

With only a few days left in the Idaho legislative session, we need you to show up again and remind this legislature that they have not done the business of the people. They have not accomplished the things they were elected to do. We need to drive home the point that they still have time. This is the year. Now is the time to ADD THE WORDS. And that if they fail to Add the Words once again we will still be here and we will not give up until Idaho is a safe place for all of her citizens.

***WRAP THE CAPITOL*** MONDAY, MARCH 17th 2014, 5:00-7:00pm*** You know you're going to go downtown anyway, so before you head for that green beer, come support your LGBTQ community members, and take a stand for what is right on this St. Patrick's Day!

***IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER***

WHAT: ***WRAP THE CAPITOL***

WHEN: Monday, March 17th 2014, 5:00-7:00pm

WHERE: CAPITOL BUILDING—meet on the front steps.

Bring your signs and be ready to march! We are going to WRAP ourselves completely around the capitol, marching around and around as the legislators leave for the day, so they have to see those they keep trying to ignore. So they have to see how many of us are in support of adding the words!!

Bring your testimonies (Just as if you are testifying at a hearing)! If you feel compelled, we will have a microphone set up on the Capitol steps so that, as the legislators leave the building, they will hear us telling the stories that they refuse to hear. We will also record your stories for future use!

Remember: This is a peaceful protest, following all rules of peaceful assembly.

DO: Bring signs and testimonies

DO: Show up on time. We want to be in place; marching peacefully around the Capitol before lawmakers leave for the day. How amazing will it be for lawmakers to have to walk through us on their way to their cars? Do show up and do bring your friends and families!

DO NOT: Block ANYTHING or ANYONE. This is a peaceful protest, and we will be following all statehouse rules. It’s the peoples’ house, and we are allowed to be there with our signs and our stories, but as the lawmakers leave, be respectful and make sure they can get through our line. DO NOT engage in any personal character attacks on legislators. Keep signs respectful and FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE.

REMEMBER: With this many people, things can escalate quickly. We need to stay calm, quiet and respectful. And most of all, we have to SHOW UP.

Oscar Party Idaho Legislators? After a hard week holding the line against Human Rights progress, Idaho legislators must have been ready to put their feet up and enjoy Oscar night. For months now, they have gone about their business in the white halls of the statehouse, while trying to avoid making eye contact with constituents standing in mute protest outside their chamber doors. The courage of the thousands of participants in the Add the Words campaign has garnered local sympathy and national attention. The the eloquent faces of these human rights activists, the long silent lines of caring people of all ages, their mouths covered, their eyes dark with distress--this would move most people. Oddly entrenched, Idaho Legislators are not moved. For the eighth year in a row, Idaho Republicans refuse....Continue reading on Stacy's blog "Hard to Watch" -- The Idaho Legislature and The Oscars.....

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Come show your support for equality in Idaho! 87% of Idahoans believe no one should be fired simply because they are straight or gay. If you agree then show your support for Add the Words. Attend the rally, contact your 3 state legislators (all Idahoans have two Representatives and one Senator), and tell your friends why you know you are on the right side of history. We simply want to Add the Words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Idaho's existing Human Rights Act. As former Republican Governor of Idaho and former head of the Idaho Republican Party Phil Batt recently said, it is past time to Add the Words to the Act he helped create. For years the Idaho legislature has silenced us and our requests for a hearing - this year let's convince them to hear our voices and simply Add the Words!

Join us January 11, 2014 at 1p at the Add the Words, Idaho rally on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol. Speakers include 94.9 The River's Ken Bass and his wife Michelle Holt Casella-Bass, Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb, Representative Grant Burgoyne, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest CEO Elaine Rose, Pocatello community leader Susie Matsuura, and Capital High Gay-Straight Alliance student leader Zach Bramwell. You'll also see great performances by Curtis Stigers and the Common Ground Community Chorus. After the rally get warm and socialize at the Boise Pride after party featuring Blaze and Kelly at Cazba in downtown Boise. Step out with us in support of equality for all! We look forward to seeing you at the rally!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

I started this post to ask you to join us at Boise’s Transgender Day of Remembrance 2013.
As I thought about how to write about it, what I could say to get people to
attend, I realized most people would just dismiss the day and the event as
irrelevant to their lives. But it’s not irrelevant to you – it’s all about the
type of world we want to live in. It really is an event you, yes YOU, need to
attend.

I know, you’re busy. Maybe you’re uncomfortable around
people who are different than society has taught us is normal. Maybe you aren’t
sure what people will think of you if you go. Most people who attend will not
be transgender themselves, we are there to show that we don’t think violence is
the answer to feeling uncomfortable around others. Are you really ok with using
violence against people in a misguided attempt to make them conform or to make
the attackers more comfortable with themselves? Because that’s what this is
about – remembering all the people who are beaten, raped, and even killed every
year just because their gender identity makes people uncomfortable.

Take a few minutes from your evening on Wednesday, November
20, 2013 to head to the Anne Frank Memorial for Boise’s Transgender Day of Remembrance. The memorial starts at 7p – show that you don’t condone violence by joining
us there.

About Me

87% of Idahoans believe that NO ONE should be fired from their job just because they are gay or transgender.
In past legislative sessions, people posted sticky notes on the Senate State Affairs Committee doors asking the Chairman to allow a public hearing on the bill to add the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Idaho's Human Rights Act.
The stickies were a powerful presence, like having voices from all over the state speaking from the committee room doors. Security took the stickies down, but they were replaced by new stickies everyday.
Last winter, we asked the Idaho legislature to hear us. A special hearing was held and representatives from the LGBT and business community were allowed to tell why the IHRA amendment is important. Our Republican legislators were not in attendance despite personal invitation.
This year, we hope to travel the legislative districts across Idaho and meet with citizens to show that even Smalltown, Idaho believes our Legislature should grant a public hearing and pass the amendment to Add the Words!